Message From Afreximbank Vice President

Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra African Trade and Export Development.

It was one of the legends of African literature, Chinua Achebe, who wrote, “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” For centuries past, Africa’s history, arts and culture were seen through the prism of the narrations documented by others. Inevitably, Africans are made to believe that their “rich” culture was rather backward; a characterisation that has permeated almost all facets of our socio-cultural and even economic life.

Since the revolutionary work of Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and many others, and the emergence of African literature, African writers’ series, and African poetry, many across the world are beginning to appreciate the depth of Africa’s history, culture and the richness of its languages. The revolution in the continent’s literary space is reinventing legendary writers and producing new talents across the continent. African writers are not just steadily rewriting our story but reshaping it with their peculiar voices and perspectives.

Part of the ensuing transformation in the culture and creative space is owed to Afreximbank’s support for the important-but-almost neglected sectors. The Bank’s CANEX programme is deployed to revitalise/energise a nascent-but-strategically important industry in Africa. Among the many novel programmes designed to elevate the continent’s youth and culture, today, Afreximbank launches the CANEX Book Factory Newsletter, a new channel to shed light on the exciting developments in Africa’s literary culture. The newsletter is also expected to foster a resilient and profitable business ecosystem while celebrating the ingenuity and literary diversity of African authors, and publishers across Africa.

This special publication that will feature diverse contents, including the exciting developments in the world of literature, and poetry as well as short articles that touch on the socio-cultural life of the African people, will certainly add to projecting an accurate and positive image of our continent to the world at large.

I invite you to peruse our inaugural issue and discover the wealth of information and inspiration it has to offer. Together, let's make the CANEX Newsletter a catalyst for growth and success in the book industry.